ATHENS - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was named the SEC player of the year in a vote of coaches, the conference announced on Tuesday morning.

That's no small feat: Caldwell-Pope is the first Georgia player to receive that honor in men's basketball since Dominique Wilkins, in 1981. Wilkins was named POY by the media vote, which was the only one that existed at the time. Caldwell-Pope is the first Georgia player to be named POY by the coaches, who inaugurated their award in 1986.

"I was really shocked," Caldwell-Pope said. "We had a lot of great players on the floor. I was just really shocked that I won. Now that I won, it's a joyous feeling."

There was another award for Georgia: Point guard Charles Mann was named to the SEC all-freshman team.

Georgia head coach Mark Fox couldn't vote for Caldwell-Pope because coaches can't vote for his own players.

"I would have voted for him because I think he's had that kind of season," Fox said. "But to be recognized by the other league's coaches I think is the highest compliment."

Caldwell-Pope in the SEC stats:

- Second in scoring (18.0 points per game), behind Henderson.
- Second in 3-pointers made (2.5 per game, a total of 31)
- Second in minutes per game (33.8 per game)
- Third in steals (2.1 per game)
- Third in defensive rebounds (5.8 per game)
- Sixth in 3-point percentage (37.1 percent)
- Sixth in free throw percentage (80.9 percent)
- Eighth in rebounding (6.9 rebounds per game)
- Ninth in field goal percentage (43.2 perceent)

Florida's Billy Donovan was named the SEC coach of the year. The freshman of the year is Kentucky's Nerlens Noel, who is also the defensive player of the year. Noel tore his ACL in February, ending his season.

The AP selections for SEC postseason awards will be announced next week.

About Jason Butt

Jason Butt joins The Telegraph after spending the past two years covering high school sports for The Washington Post. A 2009 University of Georgia graduate, he's also covered the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons for CBSSports.com.